Megan Silverman, partner and talent agent, WME

Women's Impact Report 2012: Agents & Managers

Silverman’s instincts and passion have helped her land her young clients in career-changing roles. This year, client Emma Stone rose to the top of the Hollywood firmament with “The Help” and “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Silverman’s client Garrett Hedlund (“On the Road”) will next be seen in the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.” Her brace of rising thesps include Brenton Thwaites (“Maleficent”), Dakota Goyo (“Noah”), Sarah Gadon (“Cosmopolis”) and Ahna O’Reilly (“Jobs”).

Words of wisdom: “You have to have a vision, know your passions and stick to them once you find them. I always had an affinity for actors; growing up watching them in movies and on TV and this has helped guide my career. I think when people get too frenetic they tend to stray away from those passions and I try my best not to do that.”

Smartphone on vacation: “Yes I do, but I really believe, as does WME, that you need to take the time every so often to recharge the battery so you can come back focused and prepared to do your job. I enjoy what I do and I also don’t see a problem in checking in every so often when I’m on vacation if a client is in need of something.”

Work week hours: “Quite frankly I have no idea. Being an agent I wouldn’t know how to calculate the hours I put in.”

Life-work balance: “For me it is always being present for where I am whether that be at work or at home. Whatever it is you have to be present in that exact moment and give everything you can.”

Charitable passions: “There are a lot of things I’m passionate about but especially children’s causes. We are really fortunate to have the WME Foundation, which focuses on various charities. WME has adopted a school, Foster Elementary School (in Compton) and Whaley Middle School, and give back in various ways whether it be book drives, going to Whaley to paint a mural and we also run a summer camp, Camp Summer Eagle. I am also very passionate about charities focused on breast cancer research.”